Lady Hawks extend streak to six wins

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Buford again doesn't allow a run or hit in three-inning win

PCC SPORTS

DONNELLSON - The Central Lee girls have won six in a row, eight of their last 10 and have outscored their opponents 73-4 over the past six games.

But all that will be put to the test this week as the Hawks have five games set this week, four on the road and one at home against 3A No. 8 West Burlington/Notre Dame (14-3). The Hawks also take on Van Buren (6-9) on Monday, Lone Tree (9-9) on Tuesday and then play a rare doubleheader in Burlington against the 12-7 Grayhounds.

On Thursday, Sophie Turner again held an opponent to no hits or walks in three innings of work as Central Lee put up 12 runs combined in the second and third innings to invoke the 12-run rule downing New London 12-0.

An error at first put one Tiger base runner on with two out in the second, but Turner worked out of the inning unscathed, while the offense went to work in the bottom half.

Abby Simmons drew a lead-off walk and then Bailey Schwartz homered for the first time this season. The junior infielder is hitting .289 on the year and took the first pitch out to left field for a 2-0 lead.

Turner would single before New London's Kaitlyn Lee got the next two hitters out. Kenna Sandoval would draw a walk, and then Shanna Buford doubled plating courtesy runner Kamryn Cox. Sandoval would come around to score from third on a passed ball for a 5-0 lead before a fly out ended the inning.

Turner was perfect in the top of the third, and then the Hawks put the game away in the bottom half when they put up seven runs all with two outs. Schwartz's two-run doubled scored Sandoval and Buford with the game-winners.

Schwartz led the way going 3-for-3 with 5 RBI and two runs scored. Turner had two hits on the night, while Meghan Hopp, Jalyn Hawk, Buford, and Simmons each had a hit in the win.

On Friday, the Hawks needed just three innings again to put away Hillcrest Academy 13-1. Hopp went the distance in the circle giving up an earned run on three hits while striking out four.

Marie Young was 3-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBI and two runs scored. Sandavol and Alix Congdon each had two-hit games. Buford, Schwartz, Simmons, and Bella Steffensmeier each had a hit.

Hillcrest scored in the first inning on a two-out RBI from Grace Miller, but Hopp would lock things down from there on out.

Central scored five in the first, six in the second, and put up two more in the third to bring on the 12-run rule.

In the bottom of the first, four of Central Lee's first five hitters put the ball in play. Buford's single to left scored two. Young and Steffensmeier followed with back-to-back RBI doubles. Schwartz hit a 1-1 pitch with two outs into left for an RBI single and a 5-1 Hawks lead.

The first six hitters reached for the Hawks in the bottom of the third. Young singled scoring two and Congdon would also score two on a single to right before a fly out would end the inning with Central Lee up 11-1.

Hopp threw just eight pitches to retire the top of the third, and Central Lee sealed the deal with two runs in the bottom half.

Sandoval singled to open the frame and would come all the way around to score on a couple throwing errors. A pop-up in the infield was dropped allowing Buford to reach, Young would then single and Buford would come around to score the winning run on a passed ball.

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